Rotary rake



.March 27, 195i H.` E. VAN NEss 1 ROTARY RAKE 2 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1947 AYTRNEY WITNESS.'

March 27, 1951 H. E. VAN NESS 2,546,620

ROTARY RAKE Filed June '7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZN V EN TOR. Wan

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY RAKE Henry E. Van Ness, Elmira, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,181 s claims.v (o1. 513-202) The present invention relates to a rotary rake,

and more particularly to a device for picking up and collecting foreign material such as leaves, cut grass, stones, twigs, scrap of paper, etc. from lawns, golf greens, fairways, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide-a novel lawn cleaner which is eiicient and silent in operation, durable and economical in construction, and convenient to empty or discharge.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the driving and supporting wheels are located close to the axis of balance of the device so as to require very little effort to operate, and to utilize the entire weight of the device to secure traction of the wheels.

It is another object to provide such a device including a hopper and having a rake member at the forward end of the hopper, the hopper being inclined downwardly so that the forward edge contacts the ground when the device is in operation, and being tiltable about the axis of the wheels to raise the rake member for turning, backing up, or to regulate the amount taken from a pile of litter.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the hopper is readily detachable from the frame of the vehicle so as to make a portable container for disposal of the contents.

It is anotherobject to provide such a device in which the rear wall of the hopper has a hinged connection to the bottom and a detachable connection to the sides thereof whereby it may be let down so as to cause the hopper to serve as a chute for discharge of the contents.

It is another object to provide s-uch a. device in which the rake member is form-ed with long elastic tines which throw the collected material toward the rear of the hopper.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the walls of the hopper are formed of flexible material so that the front edge of the hopper may conform to inequalities in the ground by lifting and flexing the sides Without becoming detached from the frame.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary rake constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the hopper detached from the device and with its rear wall separated from the side walls; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in elevation of a preferred form of over-running clutch used to actuate the rotary rake member;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in perspective of a portion of the rotary rake member illustrating one method of anchoring the spines thereon;

Fig. 5 is a detail in vertical section of the rotary rake member illustrating another method of anchoring the spines therein;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in vertical section of the rotary rake member showing-a third meth.- cd of anchoring the spines; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of one of the guide wheels with its adjustable mounting means, and the means for detachably journaling the rotary rake member on the frame of the vehicle.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a tubular frame I of generally rectangular shape having stub axles 2 and 3 extending laterally therefrom on an axis which is preferably slightly to the rear of the center of the fram-e. Supporting and driving wheels 4 and 5 are journaled on said stub axles respectively, preferably by means of anti-friction bearings similarly to the wheels of a, bicycle.

A hopper indicated generally by numeral 6 comprising a'substantially rigid flat bottom 'l vertical sides 8 and 9 and a rear wall Il is detachably hung on the frame I as by means of hooks I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, and I1 whereby the hopper is securely supported by the frame I, but is readily detachable therefrom by simply lifting the hopper and drawing it rearwardly.

The bottom of the hopper is preferably made of material sufficiently stiff to be self-supporting,

but the side and rear walls are constructed of somewhat iiexible material such as canvas, attached securely in any suitable way to the bottom of the hopper, the rear wall II bein-g detachably connected to the sides 8 and 9 preferably by means of slide fasteners as indicated. B-y this arrangement, the back wall may be unhooked from the frame by detaching the hooks I6, I'l and released from the side walls 8 and 9 by opening the slide fasteners, whereupon the rear wall may be let down so that the hopper becomes a chute which is convenient for discharge of the collected material without the necessity of handling or lifting either the material or the hopper.

A rotary rake member indicated generally by numeral I8. is journaled on the forward end of the framey I lon an axis parallel. to the shafts 2, 3 and is arranged to be driven from wheels 4, 5 by transmissionmeans comprised driving pulleysA I9,

3 2| on wheels 4 and 5 respectively, driven pulleys 22, 23 on the opposite ends of the rake shaft 24, and belts 25, 26 connecting the pulleys.

It will be understood that the device will operate satisfactorily With a single transmission from one of the driving wheels only, but Where the cleaner is to be used in situations requiring considerable maneuvering and turning, it is preferred to use the Ldouble transmission so as .to drive the-raket -member from Whichever wheel `'is turning faster. This is accomplished by connecting the driven pulleys 22, 23 to the rake shaft 2 4` by overrunning clutches such as shown in Fig.`3 where the pulley 23 is provided with a tri-lob'ate stepped cam recess 2U, arranged to .cooperate with a key 30 slidably mounted in the shaft" 24.

The rake shaft 24 is preferably'-j'ournaledon the frame in the manner shown in detailin Fig. 7, which shoWs a bearing .member 2'! adapted-to receive a reduced end portion 2B of shaft 24, and provided with 'a reduced portion 129 A'sli'dably mounted in the end of theframe. A similar-bearing member 2l supports the opposite vend of shaft 24whe'reby the tension of fthe drive belts retains the bearing members in the frame I.

The rake elements are comprised of `longitudinal rows of tines or spines 32 formedof spring wire such as heavy piano wire extending-diametrically throughthe shaft'Zll and rigidly fixed therein. As illustrated-in Fig. 4, the spines are anchored in the shaft 24 by means of setscrews 33. ,Another method which has been-found efiicacious is to form the-shaft as a tube as indicated at '24' in Fig. 5, and'to draw a cylinder vof rubber into the tube so that when released -it'ts tightly therein. The spines are thenA forced through they rubber core and are firmly held by thev frictional grip of the rubber.

Another method of mounting-the spines in the shaft is illustrated in Fig. 6.- As there shown the shaft 24 is solid and'is drilled diametrically-for the spines asshown at 35. A larger fhole -36 is drilled at right angles vto each of the holes 35so as to intersect at the centerV of lthesliaft, and proceed slightly further in order to form a; cupshaped depression as shown atfSl. A spine 32 is then inserted in the opening' 35 until it extends equally on both sides of -the shaft, Y'and a round pointed punch is entered inthe `opening-'36 and pressed'or hammered against vvthe spine so as to deect it laterally into the cup '3l as shown at 38, thus securely anchoring the spine in the shaft.

Means for supporting therotary rakegwith its shaft a suitable distance abovethe ground t0. secure proper operation of the rakeis vshown in the form of a pair of guide wheels 39, 4I rotatably supported in yokes 42, 43 respectively which are adjustably mounted in the bearing members 2 and 21', suitable means such asset screws 44, 45 being provided for holding the guide Wheels in adjustment.

As best seen in Fig. 1, the frame I slants upwardly from its mid-portion to the rear enchand the sides 8 and 9 of the hopper are correspondingly tapered so that the 'hopper is considerably deeper at the rear thanit is infront. QA'handle 45 is secured in any suitable way to therear'of the frame I, preferably by means of an adjustable clamping means such as indicated at 541 which provides adjustment' about the horizontal axis of the frame member,'and `allows the handle to fold into the frame'for-convenience in'shipping etc.

vand comb them out.

4 hicle is propelled forward the rotation of the supporting and driving wheels 4, is transmitted through the pulleys and belts to the rake shaft 24 whereby the rake is rotated in thedirection to pick up and deposit loose material in the hopper. The speed ratio of the gearing is preferably such as to cause the tips of the spines 32 to travel at a peripheral speed considerably higher than thatof the VYWheels .4, 5whereby the loose rrriateriall is -tossedintothe' hopper, while the spines pass between the blades of growing grass l The arrangement of the spines in axial roWs is particularly efficacious for ...picking up material of all sizes, since twigs will 'bodilyZ and projected into the hopper without tearing or shredding which might occur if the spines Were otherwise arranged. Pebbles or other solid objects are also thrown directly backward instead of being'deiiec'ted laterally "asthey might be if ithe' rows of spines were not axially -arranged.

The -arrangementfof `the vehicle so as 'toi-be slightly overbalanced" in' the forward direction causes it to' maintain the rake member in proper engagement with the ground without effort on the part of v'the operator; and tomaint'ain its position when the hopper is removed, tofac'ilita'te removal and replacement of the hopper. "The flexibility ofthe sidewalls fof the hopper allows the front edge of the -hopper to=rise andslide over irregularities in thesu'rface of 'the ground. The formation fof the frame andjhopper so 'that therear-of Lthe hopperfis normally 'raised' a substantial distance above the ground, permits the operator to elevate Athe rake vmember 'by depressing`-the handle. In this *mannen the device is readily maneuvered-v-and turned. This'feature is..also advantageous when alarge deposit of material "is to be vpicked up, since it permits the operator to make repeated passes over'the material and collect it effectivelywithout overloadingthe rake member.

When it is desired to empty the/hopperQ-it may 'befjdetached Yfrom the frame by liftinggit and drawing it rearwardly and: the contents then discharged bypouring themfromfthe front of the hopper. When'the material doesnot have tobe'lifted howeverit maybe conveniently discharged by simply letting down the back of the hopper and raking it out.

Although certain structure Vhas been '1 shown and ldescribed in'detail itwill be understood that various changes maybe made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departingffrom the scope of the invention.

-What is claimed is:

l. 1n a roto rakea'tubularfrarne of'` generally rectangular shapehav i ng stub' axles "extending laterally from `the sides'of the frame, ground 'engaging'wheels journaled on said axles', a hopper having a bottoni of' self-'supporting.material and side walls'and backwallof flexible material permanently attached to the'bottomand saidrback wall being d etachably connectedto the sijde walls; detachable means 'supporting'the side walls 'from the sides ofthe frame, separate detachable means supporting the back wallfrom the end ofthe frainea"'rotary vcomb member journaled'` on the frame 'in` front of "the hopper, "and transmission meansconnecting Xat least .one of the ,driving wheels tothe lcornb'jmeinberfand rotating'the comb memberv in the same direction as thejidriving wheels and atfahigherperipheral speed.

2. In a roto rake a generally rectangular frame having laterally extending stub axles located intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of supporting and drivingl Wheels journaled on the stub axles, a hopper supported on the frame between the wheels, bearing members sliclably mounted on the front end of the frame, a rotary shaft journaled in said bearing members parallel to the axles, a speed increasing transmission connecting the driving wheels to the shaft including pulleys mounted on the ends of said shaft, and belts connecting the driving wheels to said pulleys, said belts by their tension serving also as means for retaining said bearing members on the frame; and a plurality of spring wire spines traversing said shaft normal to its axis, forming a plurality of elastic rotary combs; in which the spines are so mounted in the rotary shaft as to form a plurality of axially extending combs equally spaced about the periphery of the shaft.

3. In a roto rake a generally rectangular frame having laterally extending stub axles located intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of supporting and driving wheels journaled on the stub axles, a hopper supported on the frame between the wheels, bearing members slidably mounted on the front end of the frame, a rotary shaft journaled in said bearing members parallel to the axles, a speed increasing transmission connecting the driving wheels to the shaft including pulleys mounted on the ends of said shaft, and belts con- HENRY E. VAN NESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 666,689 Phillips Jan. 29, 1901 680,467 Shoemaker Aug. 13, 1901 939,765 Walte NOV. 9, 1909 1,509,468 Braun Sept. 23, 1924 1,911,535 Schultze May 30, 1933 1,939,385 Burr Dec. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,105 Great Britain May 17, 1917 

